Summary

This survey of state legislators focused on attitudes
toward term limits and what effects term limits might have. The survey
was conducted just as term limits were about to be initiated in close
to 20 states. Respondents were asked how many terms they had served,
whether they supported the idea of term limits, and if they had taken
a position on term limits during their campaigns. They were also asked
about the relative influence of party leaders and staff, among others,
in determining legislative outcomes and how this influence had changed
recently. With regard to the job of legislator, respondents were
queried regarding how many bills and amendments they had authored, how
much time they spent on various duties and tasks, and if they
specialized in single policy areas. Also elicited was campaign
information regarding headquarters and staff, as well as information
on opposition, vote percentages, and campaign expenditures. Additional
questions regarding the respondent's political future were asked as
well. Former state legislators also answered questions regarding which
other offices they held, and whether they were appointed or elected to
those positions. In addition, they were asked why they departed from
the legislature, if they were likely to run for office again, what the
political background of the person who held the seat after them was,
and, if they chose not to run for re-election, the reason for that
decision. Demographic information, including gender, year of birth,
ethnicity, occupation outside of politics, income level, and religious
affiliation was also collected. Contextual information was added to
the file by the principal investigators, and includes data on state
population, the date when term limits were adopted in the state,
length of term, timing of elections, number of seats in the
legislature, legislative expenditures, and legislator compensation.

Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage

Restrictions

These data should not be used to identify or
characterize individual state legislators. The data are to be used for
aggregate statistical analysis only. All respondents were promised
confidentiality, and it is expected that all users will respect this
guarantee. In order to assure that respondents cannot be identified
with certainty, small number of responses were randomized -- not
enough to affect aggregate analysis, but enough to prevent linking up
of individual legislators with survey responses.

Time Period(s)

Sample

Seventy-seven percent of the members of lower chambers of
state legislatures. The number of legislators sampled in each chamber
was proportional to the state population, with a minimum of 70 or the
size of the chamber if that was less than 70. In addition, all
presiding officers and majority and minority leaders were sampled. The
response rate was 47 percent.

Universe

All state legislators in all 50 states in spring 1995, as
well as former legislators who served in 1993 or 1994.

Data Source

mailback questionnaires, THE BOOK OF THE STATES,
Vol. 30, and the National Council of State Legislatures